Jack Hermansson No Match for Jared Cannonier in UFC Fight Night 160 Headliner

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Jared Cannonier had won two in a row coming into his main event showdown with Jack Hermansson on Saturday night in Copenhagen, Denmark, and his winning surge continued.

Cannonier (13-4) was taken down by “The Joker” early and often in the opening frame in the featured bout of UFC Fight Night 160 on ESPN+ but that was about all Hermansson was able to do. Once Cannonier figured out The Joker’s approach, it was all but over. “The Killa Gorilla” began stuffing the takedown attempts and then quickly ended things in the second.

Hermansson (20-5) began tossing out low kicks as soon as the second began, but once he got inside, Cannonier rocked and dropped him with an uppercut to the jaw. The Swede stumbled down and into the cage and from there, the American pounced. Cannonier began landing short elbows from on top and then switched to vicious punches. Though Hermansson covered up and blocked most of the onslaught, he couldn’t escape or improve his position, which forced referee Marc Goddard to intervene. The end of the middleweight contest officially came just 27 ticks into the second, giving Cannonier his third straight win.

Madsen Blows Belluardo’s Doors Off

Local hero and multiple-time Olympic wrestler Mark Madsen was tremendous in Saturday’s co-main event as he ran through Italy’s Danilo Belluardo (12-5) like he was a mannequin. “The Olympian” scored an easy early takedown and from there, he proceeded to dish out an endless storm of punches and elbows until referee Leon Roberts had no choice but to pull him off.

Madsen scored the TKO win at just 1:12 of the first, allowing himself to improve to 9-0.

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Late Notice Burns Upsets Nelson

In a lightweight matchup that was as close as it was entertaining, it was Brazil’s Gilbert Burns who prevailed over Gunnar Nelson (17-4-1).

The two landed their fair share of solid strikes, but it was Burns’ takedowns that were the difference in the contest. Burns (17-3) sealed the Icelandic fighter’s fate late in the pivotal third round when he scored a powerful double-leg takedown right before the horn. In the end, all three cageside judges favored Burns with scores of 29-28.

Cutelaba Fells Rountree in Round 1

After losing to Glover Teixeira the last time out, Moldova’s Ion Cutelaba got back on track as he starched Las Vegas’ Khalil Rountree in the opening round. “The Hulk” waded through early firepower from Rountree and scored a takedown after landing a stiff Superman punch.

Once down, Rountree (8-4, 1 NC) was in serious peril as Cutelaba (15-4, 1 NC) unloaded an endless supply of elbows until referee Marc Goddard intervened. The end came at 2:35 of the first, ending the light heavyweight battle in explosive fashion.

OSP Makes Another Case to Rename Von Flue Choke

Ovince St. Preux struggled mightily in the opening round against Poland’s Michal Oleksiejczuk, as he was wobbled multiple times by punches to the head and body. “OSP” appeared to be withering before the world’s eyes and it seemed like a matter of time before Oleksiejczuk (14-3, 1 NC) put him away.

However, St. Preux (24-13) got a second wind in the second and took his foe to the canvas. Oleksiejczuk tried locking on a guillotine from off his back, but “OSP” quickly locked in his signature Von Preux choke and put the Pole to sleep, ending the light heavyweight tussle at 2:14 of the second.

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Dalby Makes Most of Second Chance

Welterweight Nicolas Dalby electrified his hometown fans as he went to war with Brazilian veteran Alex Oliveira for three rounds. “Lokomotivo” rocked Oliveira (19-8-1, 1 NC) a few times with punches to the head and he scored multiple takedowns.

Dalby (17-3-1, 1 NC) easily won rounds two and three, but “Cowboy” rallied early in the third with a takedown and solid ground-and-pound. However, referee Rebin Saber stood the fighters up when Oliveira was landing punches, which allowed the Dane to score a takedown of his own and finish the fight dishing out punches from top half guard.

In the end, all three judges favored Dalby with scores of 29-28.

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